UK physics A-level entrants by gender and by nation 2001–18

What does this data show?

Between 2001 and 2018, the proportion of female entrants to A-level physics in the UK has fluctuated from 20.7% to 23.1%, with an average of 21.8%. Between 2001 and 2010 the average proportion of A-level physics entrants who were girls in the UK was 22.2%. Since 2010, the average proportion has been 21.4%.

In England, the proportion of girls in the A-level physics cohort has varied from 20.6% to 22.8%. There has been a slight downward trend in the proportion of entrants to A-level physics in England who were girls since 2001. Between 2001 and 2010, the average proportion of girls in England was 21.8%. Since 2010, the average proportion has been 21.1%. The average proportion of A-level entrants who were girls between 2001 and 2018 in England was 21.5%.

Northern Ireland has consistently seen a higher proportion of girls entering A-level physics than other UK nations. The proportion of female entries in Northern Ireland has varied between 24.9% in 2013 and 31.3% in 2008. However, Northern Ireland has still seen a slight fall in recent years. Between 2001 and 2010, an average proportion of 29.8% of A-level physics entrants were female. Since 2010 this average proportion has been 27.1%.

Wales has seen a similar trend to England in the proportion of entrants to A-level physics who were girls. There has been a slight fall in the proportion of girls in recent years, from an average of 21.6% between 2001 and 2010 and 20.4% since 2010. However, the proportion of girls rose to 21.6% in 2017 and has remained stable in 2018.